According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, between 2007 and 2014, around 4.2 million homeowners in the U.S. lost their homes due to foreclosure. Foreclosure is a legal process wherein a creditor or mortgage lender puts up for sale a loan collateral (a house) in order to recover from a borrower all unpaid mortgages. Foreclosure usually starts after a borrower becomes delinquent in mortgage payment for three successive months.

There are two major types of foreclosure: judicial and non-judicial. In judicial foreclosure, the mortgagee or creditor (usually a bank) will need to file a case in court to start a foreclosure procedure on a delinquent borrower’s property. It takes several months for this procedure to be completed, though, giving the homeowner the chance to raise a legal defense that may save his/her property. There have been a number of foreclosure defenses resorted to in the past that have helped homeowners save their property, including:

a. Servicemember on active duty.

If your creditor filed a case in court to start foreclosure on your property, you are allowed to write the court to request for a postponement of the foreclosure proceeding. Protection against mortgage foreclosure is just one of the many types of protection provided by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), formerly called the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act (SSCRA), for members of the military entering active duty.

b. Unconscionable (unacceptable) mortgage term.

This happens when a creditor/lender takes advantage of, misguides and deceives a borrower by designing a mortgage loan contract that is actually intended to make mortgage payment impossible, giving it the opportunity to seize and foreclose upon your property.

c. State procedures were not observed by foreclosing party:

In a foreclosure procedure there are steps that the foreclosing party needs to observe, such as serving the loaner a notice of default and giving the borrower 30 days to make a payment after the notice of default has been issued. Failure to observe any of the steps required in the foreclosure procedure gives the loaned the legal right to defending against such foreclosure.

d. Foreclosing party cannot prove ownership of mortgage:

There are times when the foreclosing party is not able to present ownership of mortgage. This is a common case wherein a mortgage contract has been purchased by different companies, so that ownership of the contract has passed from one owner to another.

e. Mistakes committed by the Mortgage Servicer:

There have been times when a case (that will start foreclosure proceedings) was filed in court by a lender, only to find out that the bases for the foreclosure were actually mistakes committed by the mortgage servicer. These mistakes include:

The error of crediting mortgage payment under another loaner’s name;

Imposing very high fees or collecting fees not approved by you or by the creditor; and,

Declaring a mortgage amount that is much higher than what you really are supposed to pay.

In its website, the law firm Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C., says, “For most people, the home they live in is the most important possession they will ever own. That’s why a foreclosure on their home can be one of the most challenging experiences to go through. Not only can a foreclosure cause lasting damage to an individual’s financial standing, but it can also deprive them and their families of the place they have called home for years. Sadly, there are far too many situations in which lenders wrongfully foreclose on a home.

Wrongful foreclosure can be an extremely difficult thing to go through; however, homeowners should know that with the help of qualified legal counsel, they may be able to fight back to protect their rights and do everything they can to keep their home.”

Slipping, tripping, and falling are accidents that can cause serious injuries, particularly in the head, neck, back, hip, and arm areas. Even though these types of accidents are devastating, property owners and managers still become negligent and let their premises have conditions that can trigger such accidents.

They have the responsibility to make their premises safe to avoid accidents and injuries. Any mistakes resulting into someone getting hurt may be grounds for premises liability claims. Also, according to the website of these Panama City personal injury attorneys, the victims may receive compensation for the damages.

How Slip and Fall Accidents Occur
Slip and fall accidents can happen anywhere. Outdoors, they may happen on parking lots and sidewalks. Indoors, they may happen on hallways, escalators, and stairs. They may also happen on private and public properties, such as residences, offices, and construction sites.
These accidents happen because of catalysts. For outdoors, the following factors may be considered:

Ice and snow buildup on roof

Poor lighting

Trash and debris

Uneven surfaces like potholes and cracks

Water, ice, snow on pavement

For indoors, the following factors may cause slip and fall accidents:

Defective escalators, elevators, and stairs

Loose cables and other obstructions

Slippery substances like spilled drinks and floor wax
Worn carpets

How Slip and Fall Accident Claims WorkSlip and fall accident claims can be very tricky, so it is best to consult legal professionals on the matter. Typically, claims can only be viable when they pass certain conditions, such as the following:

Property owner has created the dangerous condition

Property owner has known that the dangerous condition exists and has failed to act accordingly

Condition has existed long enough for the property owner to have discovered and corrected it

Damages from Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are some of the most tragic things that can happen to a person, especially if the accident has been caused by the negligence and recklessness of property owners or managers. Below are just some of the damages the victim may sustain.

Cocaine is a Schedule I drug due to its addictive and harmful nature. The accusation of cocaine possession can result in expensive fines, and alter aspects of daily life such as employment.

Cocaine Penalties

According to the website of Horst Law, penalties for Schedule I drugs are among the most expensive and are associated with longer sentences than other drugs. Penalties for the various amounts of cocaine possession can range from 180 days in jail to life in prison, depending on the amount of the substance authorities find. Monetary penalties can vary, with a maximum fine of $100,000 in some places. Punishments increase depending on the amount because law enforcement can argue that after a certain threshold, there is more drugs than one person can reasonably consume, so they assume you must be trying to distribute them. Those charges have harsher consequences and can be tacked on in addition to possession ones.

If accused of cocaine possession, you have a difficult road ahead of you. You are probably facing a trial and possible jail time. This can be scary, but remember that you are innocent until proven guilty, so there is still a chance that you can go free and not have to face any of the incredibly harsh penalties that come with drug possession charges.

Technology has made its presence felt in just about any industry. In the corporate world, computers are slowly taking the place of humans. One other industry is starting to embrace technology is car insurance. A car insurance provider that utilizes up-to-date technology has a competitive advantage over other companies. Not every company will offer technological innovation.

The last decade saw an increase in more complex automotive technologies that has made driving safe impacting car insurance premiums. Big data has improved a company’s ability to forecast risk trends. In the coming years, the insurance industry will be feeling the impact of these innovations.

One of the biggest changes that will impact the car insurance industry is driverless vehicles. According to the ENO Center for Transportation, if 9 out of 10 vehicles on the road were driverless, the result would be 4.2 million accidents less and 21,700 lives saved a year. A study by the Transportation Research Institute of the University of Michigan revealed that driverless cars with unoccupied “return home” could decrease vehicle ownership by 43%. Google estimates a 90% drop in vehicle ownership with this technology.

Another technology that will find its way in the market is telematics. It combines computers and wireless technology in order to stream information across several platforms. Telematics helps provide car insurance companies with information such as the length of time a car went over a certain limit or how quickly a driver hit the brakes. The technology was used in 2012 when State Farm partnered with Ford in order to create a pay as you go policy.

User-Based Mobile Applications

Insurance companies are starting to offer mobile applications in creating quotes, reporting claims, getting information, and allowing customers to summon agents to their home. Likewise, it has allowed drivers to transmit live vehicle data and capture images and loss investigation information.

As technology slowly finds its way to the industry, the need for car insurance will feel its impact until such a time that there would be no need for it.

In a time where pollution, chemicals, additives, and occasional inspection for mycotoxins (and other contaminants) in pet foods, many people are looking for a healthier and more natural alternative to help our pets protect themselves from health problems both internally and externally. The Food and Drug Association (FDA) lists 35 different dog food and treat recalls in 2015 and January of 2016. In the natural world, animals have been known to eat earth or soil to help their digestive systems and avoid poisons. This therapeutic use of earth or soil has been seen in a number of species, such as cattle, birds, wolves, and even fish, either by eating the soil or using it externally.

In order for healing clay to be therapeutic to animals, it should allow for great digestive support and provide needed minerals that support healthy digestive system. According to the Earth’s Natural Clay website, calcium bentonite clay is one of the widely used healing clays not only for humans but for animals. It offers a holistic care that benefits the body in three major ways: maintenance, medicine, and natural supplement. It has been proven scientifically to help the body is a variety of ways, mainly through simple processes like cleansing the body of toxins and replacing them with minerals that promote and strengthen the immune system. Balancing the ph level of the gut, it boosts health bacteria in the body. When used externally, it can fight off infections and heal injuries faster.

Being pet owners, we have the responsibility of ensuring that our beloved pets are in the peak of health, although this may not always be easy because of language barriers. We have to check whether out pets are well through their actions and behaviors. Any unnatural behaviors and changing habits are indicative that the animal may be suffering, and a check up is necessary mineral deficiencies and poor digestion can be a cause of such distress, therefore ensuring that your pet are getting the necessary minerals and absorbing the vital nutrients from their food and drinks would prevent diseases and illnesses. Make sure that you keep your pets healthy by giving clay that helps boost their immune system and support their health.